Button holding clamp



M www Aug. 28, 1956 E. w. WILKINSON 2,760,455

BUTTON HOLDNG CLAMP Filed May l2, 1954 Y2; 27 29 2O S /C/"G. 5

INVENTOR. 55TH. LZ MLKINSON QWWWOP@ ATToJNEY- United States Patent BUITON HGLDNG CLAW Estel W. Wilkinson, Santa Monica, Calif.

Application May 12, 1954, Serial No. 429,153

11 Claims. (1. 112-114) The invention relates to button holders for positioning a button in a pre-selected position relative to the fabric to which the button is to be sewed.

Button holding devices have been known wherein the jaws thereof, between which the button is temporarily anchored, operate on opposite sides of the fabric, consequently, such devices must be employed only adjacent the margin of the fabric to which the buttons are to be sewed. The invention contemplates a button holder which may be utilized in any location on the fabric.

One object of the invention is to provide a button holder which may be readily fastened to the surface of a fabric material in any pre-selected location on such material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a button holder made up of three principal stampings which are readily assembled relative to each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a button holder which serves the additional function of properly spacing the button from the fabric.

Another object of the invention is to provide a button holder which may be utilized remotely from the margins of the fabric.

Other objects 'will become apparent in the ensuing specifications and appended drawing in which:

Fig. l is a plan View of the button holder on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the button holder on the same scale as in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 but on a larger scale than Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one or the parts shown on a scale which represents the preferred actual size;

Fig. 6 is a detail View of another of the parts on the scale of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

1n general the button holder includes, as its main components, three stampings, namely, a base member, shown in detail in Fig. 6, an intermediate stamping B, shown in detail in Fig. 5, and the upper stamping C. Viewing Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the left end of the lower stamping serves as the lower clamping jaw and the left end of the upper stamping C functions as the spring pressed upper clamping jaw, the button 1 being temporarily anchored between said jaws by applying manual pressure at the outer end 2, thereby lifting the upper jaw to permit insertion of the button.

The lower stamping A has at one end a bifurcated jaw portion 4 deiining an enlongated throat 3, and at its other end has narrow body furcations 5 and 6 of the jaw terminate at their outer ends with the sharpened teeth 7 and S, each of which is bent diagonally downwardly from the plane of the furcations 5 and 6 for penetration into the fabric, which is indicated by the nllmeral 9. Body portion 10 has a pair of longitudinally Mice spaced posts 11 and 12, struck out of slots 13 and 14 and projecting upwardly.

At the rear end of the body 10 a slot 15 (see Fig. 7) is defined between a pair of tabs 30, 31 which-are bent upwardly from said rear end and are formed with notches 16 adjacent the base of the slot 15 thereby providing the shoulders 17 and 18 which overhang the side margins 19 and 20 of the plunger member B for guiding same in its movement along the floor of the body 10.

The plunger B is formed as shown in Fig. 5 wherein one end thereof has a tab 21 which is formed by bending the end of the blank back upon itself as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The outwardly projecting ears 22 and 23 have the sharpened teeth 24 and 25 formed thereon, each of which teeth are bent angularly downwardly from the plane of the door of the plunger B so as to project adequately below the plane of the undersurface of the tongue l@ of stamping A for penetration into the fabric. A slot 26 is cut through the base of the plunger and determines the length of travel of the plunger relative to the stamping A. The post 12 projects up through the slot 26 and the end wall 27 at the outer end of the slot 26 engages the back face of the post 12 to limit the inward movement of the plunger relative to the base member A. The outward travel of the plunger is limited by the engagement of the shoulders 28 and 29Vwith the upwardly projecting tabs 30 and 31.

The narrowed tongue portion 32 of the plunger is guided against sideways movement by being conned within the notches 16 formed in the tabs 30 and 31 and the forward end of the plunger is guided against sideways movement in that the opposite longitudinal side walls formed on the opposite sides of the slot 26 are guided against the opposite edges 33 and 34 (see Fig. 4) of the upwardly projecting post 12. An elongated pin 35 is anchored at one end in the upwardly turned tab 36 which is formed on the outer end of the plunger. The pin passes between the tabs 30 and 31 and is journalled through a bore 37 (see Fig. 4) in the post 12'and its opposite end 38 rests within a notch 38a (see Fig. 5) cut in the upper face of tab 21 to prevent lateral movement of the pin relative to the plunger. The plunger is thus free to travel in a rectilinear path along the upper surface of the base member A, however, it is appropriately guided as previously pointed out against lateral movement and it is also conned against being liftedaway from the floor of the base member A by means of the overhanging shoulders 17 and 18 as previously pointed out and as a result of the pin 35 passing through the bore 37 in the post 12. A compression spring 39 is positioned on the pin between the post 12 and tab 36 and the spring normally urges the plunger B to its outermost position relative to base A as shown in Figs. l and 2.

The upper clamping member C has the jaw portion 40' formed with an elongated throat 41 therein, the throat being in registry with the throat 3 in the lower jaw mem-V ber 4. in Fig. l i have shown the throat in the upper jaw member as being slightly wider than the throat of the lower jaw member, however, this is intended primarily for clarity purposes and the throats are preferably 0fthe same dimensions so that the throat of theupper'jawt registers accurately with the throat of the lower jaw.

In Fig. l I have also shown the tongue portion 42 of the upper clamping jaw member as being of less width than the body portion 10 of base' member A,A

however, this is primarily intended for clarity and: they may be of the samey width if desired.

When the button 1 is inserted between the upper and' lower clamping jaws the holes 43 in the button are l arranged so as to come within the area throats of-"the upper and lower jaws so that the needle of the sewing machine can pass through the button holes 43 and then on through the fabric without any obstructiony being encountered. The button holding devicer is particularly suitable for use with the typeof sewing machine which performs a zig-zag stitch wherein the needle is passed throughralternate holes in the button on each stroke of the sewing machine.

The tongue portion 42 of the upper clamping jaw has a slightly angularly inclined section 44 terminating with a Vlever portion 45 whichthas an opening therethrough and the upper end 45 of 'the post l2 is reduced in size and provides the. fulcrurn for the tongue portion 42 of the upper'clamping jaw. The tongue 42 rests on the shoulders 47 and 43 (see Figl) which areformed at the upper end of post i2. The post 11 has a compression spring i9 telescopically positioned/thereon and a cross bar S is anchored to the upper end of the post 1l as by welding and the spring abuts the cross bar and the tongue 42 thereby normally urging the upper jaw legs 51 and 52 downwardly toward the lower jaw legs 5 and 6 and thereby resiliently anchoring the button 1 between said jaws during the sewing operation. The upper jaw legs l and 52 are of narrow width to facilitate grasping theV diametrically opposite margins ofthe button (which margins protrude outwardly beyond the outer side edges of the legs 5i and 52) and inserting the button in place between the upper and lower clamping jaws. The tongue '42 lhasan opening therethrough designated bythe numeral`53 (see Fig. 3) through which the post 1l projects, there being sufficient clearancetto permit the upper jaw member to be free to swing about the fulcrum of post 12 y during the opening and closing of the upper jaw.

In the assembly of the button holding device the tongue portion 32 of the'plunger is provided with notches 55 and-56 to permit the plunger to be assembled between the tabs 30 and 31 from directly above, the span of slot 15 being slightly greatly than the width of the plunger tongue in the region of the notches. The notches 55 and j 56 serve no function 'other than for assembling the plunger relative to the base A.' The pin 35 is then guided through the bore in tab 36 and then through the bore in the throats in the clamping jaws are arranged so as to surround themarked area where the button will be sewed to the fabric. The teeth 7 and 8 are penetrated into-'the fabric and the rear end or the button holding device is tilted up slightly away from the fabric until the plunger B can be pushed inwardly to its limit of inward travel wherein the end wall 27 of slot 26 engages the rear face of post 12. Then' the rear end of the button holding device is lowered against the fabric until the teeth 24 and 25 are penetrated into the fabric. Then the Y plunger is-released'and the spring 39 causes the plunger to move outwardly to its outer limit of travel (as shown in Figs,-l and 2), or at least the' plunger is permitecl to travel outwardly until the fabric reaches its limits of stretching due to the teeth 2li and 25 moving in a direction away from the teeth '7 and 8. As the teeth 24 and 25 -move away from the lteeth 7 and 8 the fabric between the two sets of teeth is stretched taut in the area 58 as indicated in Fig. 2, preparatory to the sewing operation. In Fig. 3 I have shown the plunger with both sets of teeth penetrated into the fabric and the plunger having travelled .part way in its direction outward travel, the stretching of the fabric between the two sets Vof teeth having been just commenced.

Y After the button has been inserted between the upper a fraction of a second toKinstall the device onto the fabric by first depressing the plunger and then releasing same and likewise it only requires a fraction of a second toremove the device from the fabric after the sewing operation has been completed, by simply pushing in the plunger to release teeth 24 and 25 from the fabric and then tilting the rear end .of the device upwardly slightly land then pulling it'way from the fabric (it is not necessary to raise the upper clamping jaw away from the button during removal of thedevice from the fabric).

It will be noted that the device is applied to the fabric from above the fabric (that is the entire device is located above the fabric except for the teeth which penetrate the fabric), thereby making itrpossible to install the button holding device in any location throughout the entire surface area of the fabric. 1It will be understood thatif several buttons are to be sewed onto, for exam.

ple, a garment, then severalof these button holding devices may be employed and they may be arranged on',

the fabric in the selected positions in which the buttons will bel ultimately located on the garment and then the entire array of-buttons can be sewed'to the garmentV inserting Va button into the appropriate buttonhole in the use of the garment. It will be understood that the button holder can be made in various'sizes if desired..

I claim: t l. A clamp for holding a button in a pre-selected position on a piece of fabric comprising: a base member;

a plunger mounted on said base member for sliding movement longitudinally thereof; said base member and plunger having respective longitudinally spaced fabric engaging teeth projecting diagonally downwardly and away from one another; resilient means acting between said base member and plunger for effecting relative spreading movement thereof to set said teeth in the fabric and cause the clamp to cling to the fabric; means on the plunger and base member for engagement between the finger tipsfor relatively moving the plunger and base member to retracted relation to one another, preparatory to engaging said teeth in the fabric and for disengaging the clamp from the fabric; and a ciamp member movably attached to the base member, said members having opposed bifurcated button clamping jaws for engaging a peripheral portion of a button between them, said jaws having open throats to register with the central portion of the button to accommodate attaching said central portion-to the fabric; and means acting between said base and clamping members to actuate them to clamp the button between them. Y f

2. A clamp for holding a button in a pre-selected position on a piece of fabric comprising: a base'member; a plunger mounted on said base member for sliding movement longitudinally thereof; said base member and plunger having,"on longitudinal axes thereof, respective longitudinally spaced fabric engaging teeth projecting and diverging diagonally from said axes; means operative between said base member and plunger for effecting relative spreading movementrthereof to set said teeth inthe fabric and cause the clamp to cling to the fabric; and a clamp' member movably attached to the base member, said members having opposed Vbifurcated button clamping jaws for engaging a peripheralportion of a button between them, said jaws having open throatsto register with the central portion of the button toaccommodate Vattaching lsaid central portion to the fabric; 'and means sition on a piece of fabric comprising: a base member; a plunger mounted on said base member for sliding movement longitudinally thereof; said base member and plunger having respective longitudinally spaced fabric engaging teeth projecting diagonally downwardly and away from one another; resilient means acting between said base member and plunger for effecting relative spreading movement thereof to set said teeth in the fabric and cause the clamp to cling to the fabric; and a clamp member movably attached to the base member, said members having opposed bifurcated button clamping jaws for engaging a peripheral portion of a button between them, said jaws having open throats to register with the central portion of the button to accommodate attaching said central portion to the fabric; resilient means acting between said base and clamping member to yieldingly close said jaws for clamping the button between them; and means for engagement between the finger tips for actuating said base and clamping members to open said jaws.

4. A clamp for holding a button in a pre-selected position on a piece of fabric comprising: a base member; a plunger mounted on said base member for sliding movement longitudinally thereof; said base member and plunger having respective longitudinally spaced fabric engaging teeth projecting diagonally downwardly and away from one another; resilient means acting between said base member and plunger for eifecting relative spreading movement thereof to set said teeth in the fabric and cause the clamp to cling to the fabric; means on the plunger and base member for engagement between the finger tips for relatively moving the plunger and base member to retracted relation to one another, preparatory to engaging said teeth in the fabric and for disengaging the clamp from the fabric; and a clamp member pivoted to said base member on a transverse airis intermediate the ends of the members, said members having, as their end portions forward of the pivot axis, a pair of opposed bifurcated jaws for engaging a peripheral portion of a button between them, said jaws having open throats to register with the central portion of the button to accommodate attaching said central portion to the fabric, and having their rear end portions opposed and normally spaced to function as handles for spreading the jaws; and resilient means acting between said base and clamping member to yieldingly close said jaws for clamping the button between them.

5. A button clamp as defined in claim 4, wherein the base member has longitudinally spaced parts struck up from its rear end portion to provide pivot and guide posts, said clamping member having correspondingly spaced apertures receiving said posts.

6. A clamp as defined in claim 5, wherein said jaw closing resilient means comprises a coil spring encircling the post near the jaws, said near post having a head against which said coil spring is abutted under compression between said head and the clamping member.

7. A clamp as defined in claim 6, wherein said clamping member has an intermediate portion positioned to engage the inner extremity of said plunger and to fulcrum thereon so that when the rear end of the clamping member is pressed toward the base member, the jaws will be spread.

8. A clamp as deiined in claim 4, wherein the teeth of the base are formed as projections of the forward tips of the respective furcations of the base jaw.

9. A clamp as dened in claim 4, wherein the plunger has a pair of laterally projecting fingers having said teeth formed as downwardly bent extensions thereof, in embracing relation to the rear end portion of the base.

l0. A clamp as defined in claim 4, wherein said plunger comprises a at body bar having a longitudinal slot in its forward portion and having a bent rear end portion disposed in a plane transverse to the plane of said body bar; said base member having a post struck from the intermediate area of its said rear end portion and projecting through said plunger slot, and having a pair of upwardly bent tabs at its rear end, said tabs being laterally spaced and having, in their base portions, opposed notches in which the side margins of said plunger body are slidably retained, said post cooperating with the side margins of said slot to provide a forward guide and said tabs cooperating with the side margins of said plunger body to provide a rearward guide for sliding movement of the plunger relative to the base member.

ll. A clamp as defined in claim 4, wherein said plunger comprises a flat body bar having a longitudinal slot in its forward portion and having a bent rear end portion disposed in a plane transverse to the plane of said body bar; said base member having a post struck from the intermediate area of its said rear end portion and projecting through said plunger slot, and having a pair of upwardly bent tabs at its rear end, said tabs being laterally spaced and having, in their base portions, 0pposed notches in which the side margins of said plunger body are slidably retained, said post cooperating with the side margins of said slot to provide a forward guide and said tabs cooperating with the side margins of said plunger body to provide a rearward guide for sliding movement of the plunger relative to the base member; said base member having a forward post struck from said rear portion thereof and projecting upwardly at the junction of said rear end portion and the jaw portion thereof; said clamping member having longitudinally spaced apertures through which said posts project to position the clamping member and to provide the pivotal attachment thereof to the base member; said forward post having a head at its outer end, and said clamping actuator means comprising a coil spring encircling said forward post and engaged under compression between said head and said clamping member.

Levin Dec. 24, 1935 Brussell Oct. 5, 1943 

